Global Pandemic Threat: 100 Days to Save Lives
5 months, 1 week ago

Global Pandemic Threat: 100 Days to Save Lives

Hindustan Times  

A modelling study suggests that if a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 had been developed within 100 days, an estimated 8.3 million deaths could have been averted globally. The study also estimated that productivity losses due to illness amounting to almost $1.4 trillion and $63 billion of hospitalisation costs would have been averted globally.

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COVID-19 Lockdown: How India shut down and opened gradually to battle a pandemic
2 days, 8 hours ago

COVID-19 Lockdown: How India shut down and opened gradually to battle a pandemic

The Hindu  

“If we are not able to adhere to this lockdown sincerely for 21 days, believe me, India will go back 21 years,” warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, 2020, as India registered 10 deaths due to the spread of Coronavirus. In a bid to give India’s healthcare system, medical professionals, sanitation workers, scientists and others time to prepare …

India hosts Quad workshop on pandemic preparedness to boost One Health approach to combat health threats
1 week, 4 days ago

India hosts Quad workshop on pandemic preparedness to boost One Health approach to combat health threats

Firstpost  

According to the External Affairs Ministry, the ‘Quad Workshop on Pandemic Preparedness for the Indo-Pacific Region’ will concentrate on pandemic preparedness, namely governance, monitoring, and innovation India is hosting a workshop on pandemic preparation for senior health officials and technical experts from 15 nations in the Indo-Pacific region as well as Quad member states. According to the External Affairs Ministry, …

After Covid, is the world well prepared for another pandemic?
1 week, 5 days ago

After Covid, is the world well prepared for another pandemic?

Firstpost  

The world was shaken to its core when the Covid pandemic hit in 2019 killing as many as seven million people across the world. Many unscrupulous people took advantage of the Covid pandemic, selling useless remedies for the condition, such as bleach, hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin. This made it very hard to deliver serious public health messages and interventions, especially to …

After Covid, is the world well prepared for another pandemic?
1 week, 5 days ago

After Covid, is the world well prepared for another pandemic?

Firstpost  

The world was shaken to its core when the Covid pandemic hit in 2019 killing as many as seven million people across the world. Many unscrupulous people took advantage of the Covid pandemic, selling useless remedies for the condition, such as bleach, hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin. This made it very hard to deliver serious public health messages and interventions, especially to …

National Vaccination Day 2025: Date, history, significance
1 week, 5 days ago

National Vaccination Day 2025: Date, history, significance

India Today  

National Vaccination Day is a testament to India's unwavering dedication to public health through immunisation. As we observe National Vaccination Day 2025, let us reaffirm our commitment to vaccination, recognising it as a cornerstone of public health and a vital tool in safeguarding future generations. HISTORY OF NATIONAL VACCINATION DAY The inception of National Vaccination Day dates back to March …

Why India needs better surveillance and a national programme for encephalitis control
1 month ago

Why India needs better surveillance and a national programme for encephalitis control

The Hindu  

The World Health Organization recently launched a technical brief highlighting encephalitis as an urgent public health priority, in response to the growing global burden of the disease. The nature of encephalitis cases in india According to the WHO, Japanese encephalitis virus, a flavivirus related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile viruses, and spread by mosquitoes, is found in 24 …

Five Years Since COVID-19: Are We Ready for the Next Global Pandemic?
1 month, 1 week ago

Five Years Since COVID-19: Are We Ready for the Next Global Pandemic?

The Hindu  

Published : Feb 17, 2025 17:27 IST - 6 MINS READ Five years after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, experts worry the world has still not learnt its lessons, saying it is a question of when-not if-a deadly, new “Disease X” strikes. Scientific shorthand for an unknown or hypothetical pathogen, Disease X could cause an international epidemic or pandemic that …

India has robust system to tackle pandemics: Health Minister
1 month, 3 weeks ago

India has robust system to tackle pandemics: Health Minister

The Hindu  

India has a very robust system to deal with future pandemics and public health emergencies, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda asserted in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Replying to supplementary questions in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Nadda highlighted the steps taken by the government in the last 10 years to strengthen India's health system, especially in the …

History Today: How India administered its first Covid-19 vaccine on this day
2 months, 1 week ago

History Today: How India administered its first Covid-19 vaccine on this day

Firstpost  

As the world struggled with Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021, India, on January 16, launched its vaccination drive against the virus. Today also marks India’s fight against the Covid-19 virus — the country began its vaccination drive. India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive begins On this day, January 16, 2021, India’s fight against Covid-19 got a boost when it began its vaccination …

Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr | The long trauma of Covid: Lessons should be learnt
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Parsa Venkateshwar Rao Jr | The long trauma of Covid: Lessons should be learnt

Deccan Chronicle  

In November-December 2019, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome new coronavirus, also called SARS-CoV2 or Covid-19 as named by the World Health Organisation, was coming out the shadows as the Chinese doctors noticed cases of pneumonia emerging at a rapid and large scale emerging in Wuhan. The total number of cases of infection was 770 million, and the global Covid-19 death …

5 things we know and still don't know about COVID, 5 years after it appeared
2 months, 3 weeks ago

5 things we know and still don't know about COVID, 5 years after it appeared

Hindustan Times  

Five years ago, a cluster of people in Wuhan, China, fell sick with a virus never before seen in the world. The World Health Organization has said member countries reported more than 7 million deaths from COVID-19 but the true death toll is estimated to be at least three times higher. Scientists and vaccine-makers broke speed records developing COVID-19 vaccines …

5 things we know and still don't know about COVID, 5 years after it appeared
2 months, 3 weeks ago

5 things we know and still don't know about COVID, 5 years after it appeared

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The World Health Organization has said member countries reported …

Pandemic preparedness: Learning from COVID-19 and Nipah to build a resilient future
3 months ago

Pandemic preparedness: Learning from COVID-19 and Nipah to build a resilient future

The Hindu  

As we observe International Epidemic Preparedness Day on December 27, India stands at a crucial juncture in its journey towards building robust health security systems. The State’s response demonstrates how local healthcare systems can effectively contain potential pandemic threats through rapid detection, systematic contact tracing, and coordinated public health measures. For India to mitigate future pandemics effectively, it must expand …

Britain needs a ‘vaccine taskforce’ to prepare for the next pandemic, Lords warn
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Britain needs a ‘vaccine taskforce’ to prepare for the next pandemic, Lords warn

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Britain needs a “peacetime vaccine task force” to prepare for the …

Health Talk | How eliminating polio has been one of the major successes of India's Universal Immunisation Programme
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Health Talk | How eliminating polio has been one of the major successes of India's Universal Immunisation Programme

Hindustan Times  

The World Immunisation Day is observed every year on November 10th. India is a classic example of what robust immunisation coverage against a disease can achieve in the form of the country's pulse polio programme, of which vaccination was a crucial part. India rolled out the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme on October 2 1994, and according to WHO India statement, …

Immunisation for all is Humanly Possible
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Immunisation for all is Humanly Possible

Deccan Chronicle  

Vaccination drive all over the world in the last half century has contributed vastly in eradicating many vaccine preventable diseases. Vaccination against 14 disease causing bugs has reducing deaths in under one year children by 40% all over the world. According to World Health Organisation, global immunisation has saved 150 million lives. Newer vaccines like HPV vaccine which protects against …

India to undertake mega study of covid-19 samples to help prepare for future pandemics
4 months, 3 weeks ago

India to undertake mega study of covid-19 samples to help prepare for future pandemics

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The Department of Biotechnology plans to undertake a study of thousands of samples and clinical material collected during covid-19 to help Indian scientists understand the susceptibility of individuals and changes in metabolic activity that will be useful in fighting future pandemics. The department will give the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, a consortium of 54 laboratories, the mandate to …

‘Still not over’: WHO cautions of COVID-19 threat ahead of summer holidays after US President Joe Biden tests positive
8 months, 1 week ago

‘Still not over’: WHO cautions of COVID-19 threat ahead of summer holidays after US President Joe Biden tests positive

Live Mint  

New Delhi: With US President Joe Biden testing positive for COVID-19 before the Presidential elections, the World Health Organisation has warned the public that Covid is still not over. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a warning, stating that vaccination rates among health professionals and the over-60s—two demographics most at risk of dying from COVID—are alarmingly falling. Globally, 9.8 million …

Vaccinating India: Triumphs and Challenges on the Road to Full Coverage
9 months, 1 week ago

Vaccinating India: Triumphs and Challenges on the Road to Full Coverage

News 18  

Vaccines have come a long way since Dr Edward Jenner first inoculated an eight-year-old boy against smallpox in 1796. Since 1974, the EPI has boosted global newborn immunisation coverage against DTP from 5 per cent to 84 per cent in India. This program aims to reach every child and pregnant woman who missed routine immunisation due to the Covid pandemic, …

COVID-19 vaccines: Much ado about known unknowns
10 months, 3 weeks ago

COVID-19 vaccines: Much ado about known unknowns

The Hindu  

There are things we know that we don’t know. This risk was identified and flagged back in 2021; packaging was modified to insert information associated with the side effects; even the WHO wrote about it first in May 2021 and then in 2023.Read Bindu Shajan Perapaddan’s report on the rare vaccine side-effect is “no secret” and they are “well aware …

Biden administration partners with 50 countries to stifle future pandemics
11 months, 1 week ago

Biden administration partners with 50 countries to stifle future pandemics

LA Times  

President Biden’s administration is launching a program that will help 50 countries, most of them in Africa and Asia, identify and respond to infectious diseases. President Biden’s administration will help 50 countries identify and respond to infectious diseases, with the goal of preventing pandemics like the COVID-19 outbreak that suddenly halted normal life around the globe in 2020. The Global …

COVID-19 in India | What is the current scenario and how are we tackling it?
11 months, 2 weeks ago

COVID-19 in India | What is the current scenario and how are we tackling it?

The Hindu  

Story so far: During this poll season, mentions of the COVID-19 pandemic are still doing the rounds. History of COVID-19 lockdown As COVID-19 cases – which were first reported in China’s Wuhan province – began cropping up across the world, countries employed different approaches to deal with the rise in infections, deaths and threat due to the virus, employing varying …

Homegrown solution to India's cervical cancer dilemma
1 year ago

Homegrown solution to India's cervical cancer dilemma

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi, Mar 26 It's an almost entirely preventable disease but cervical cancer kills one woman in India every seven minutes. Launched in September 2022, India's first indigenously developed quadrivalent HPV vaccine, Cervavac, has the potential to improve access to vaccines and revolutionise cervical cancer prevention in these countries. As the global focus shifts towards eliminating cervical cancer as a …

After four years of pandemic, Covid virus to be seasonal flu in young population
1 year ago

After four years of pandemic, Covid virus to be seasonal flu in young population

Hindustan Times  

Monday marks four years since the World Health Organisation declared Covid-19 a pandemic. With the availability of Covid-19 vaccines and medicines, the virus will become much like a regular flu or seasonal infection in the younger population. Health experts claimed that the SARS-CoV-2 infection will now be much like a regular flu, respiratory syncytial virus and other seasonal infections in …

With State prod, India can be world leader in vaccines
1 year, 2 months ago

With State prod, India can be world leader in vaccines

Hindustan Times  

The World Health Organization activated its incident management support team as part of its emergency response framework on the emergence of a cluster of atypical pneumonia cases emerging from Wuhan, China, on January 1, 2020. India, the dark horse in the vaccine race, did the unexpected and against all odds, approving EUA to two vaccines — “made in India” Covishield …

Serum Institute of India joins global network to boost production of affordable outbreak vaccines
1 year, 2 months ago

Serum Institute of India joins global network to boost production of affordable outbreak vaccines

The Hindu  

The Serum Institute of India will join a growing CEPI network of vaccine producers in the Global South to support more rapid, agile, and equitable responses to future disease outbreaks. The addition of SII to the CEPI manufacturing network will be a significant boost to vaccine production efforts in Global South regions, and take it a step closer to achieving …

World leaders to meet to discuss threat of hypothetical ‘Disease X’ in Davos
1 year, 2 months ago

World leaders to meet to discuss threat of hypothetical ‘Disease X’ in Davos

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It’s known by the placeholder name of Disease X, …

India sees single-day rise of 702 COVID-19 cases
1 year, 3 months ago

India sees single-day rise of 702 COVID-19 cases

The Hindu  

India saw a single day rise of 702 cases of COVID-19, with the number of active cases of the infection rising to 4,097, the health ministry said on Thursday, December 28, 2023. Six new fatalities, two from Maharashtra and one each from Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, and Delhi were reported in a span of 24 hours, according to the Union …

Keeping the hope for health alive
1 year, 3 months ago

Keeping the hope for health alive

Al Jazeera  

As we close a year of milestones and challenges in global public health, our quest to achieve ‘Health for All’ continues. Heads of state at the United Nations General Assembly committed to advancing universal health coverage, ending tuberculosis and protecting the world from future pandemics. And as WHO closes out our 75th year as the “world’s” health organisation, I extend …

Over 220 crore COVID vaccine doses administered across India, but less than 23 crore booster doses: Health Ministry data
1 year, 3 months ago

Over 220 crore COVID vaccine doses administered across India, but less than 23 crore booster doses: Health Ministry data

The Hindu  

A total of 220.67 crore COVID vaccine doses have been administered across the country as on December 21 this year, according to data released by the Health Ministry on Wednesday. However, only 22.88 crore precautionary or booster doses have been administered across the country among the eligible adult population. Despite the recent increase of people infected with the JN.1 COVID …

India sees single-day rise of 529 COVID-19 cases
1 year, 3 months ago

India sees single-day rise of 529 COVID-19 cases

The Hindu  

India recorded 529 fresh COVID-19 cases in a single day, while the country's active infection count stood at 4,093, the health ministry said on December 27. The number of daily cases had dropped to double-digits till December 5, but infections have again gone up after emergence of a new variant and cold weather conditions. The daily numbers were in lakhs …

COVID-19 Update: India records 260 new cases, total active at 1,828
1 year, 3 months ago

COVID-19 Update: India records 260 new cases, total active at 1,828

Live Mint  

India reported 260 new cases of COVID-19, with active cases rising to 1,828, as per the latest data from the Union Health Ministry on December 18. Centre Urges States to Heighten Vigilance The central government has written to states and union territories, urging them to maintain "continuous vigilance" in light of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and the identification …

WHO deliberates strategies to integrate COVID-19 vaccines with routine immunisation
1 year, 4 months ago

WHO deliberates strategies to integrate COVID-19 vaccines with routine immunisation

The Hindu  

Aimed at integrating COVID-19 pandemic vaccines with national immunisation programmes in countries of the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia Region, vaccine regulators and officials from the WHO on Tuesday began deliberating strategies for member countries to transition from the use of COVID-19 vaccines under Emergency Use Authorisation to full Marketing Authorisation. For this, it is crucial that the regulatory authorities …

COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults in India: ICMR study
1 year, 4 months ago

COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults in India: ICMR study

Live Mint  

COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of unexplained sudden death among young adults in India, says ICMR study. COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of sudden deaths among young adults in India, according to a study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research. {{^adFree}} {{/adFree}} "COVID-19 vaccination did not increase the risk of sudden deaths among young …

Accelerating Routine Immunization in India: Insights from Covid-19 Drive
1 year, 4 months ago

Accelerating Routine Immunization in India: Insights from Covid-19 Drive

The Quint  

In the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing vaccination drive in India, the country's healthcare system gained invaluable insights into strengthening routine immunization programs. Learnings for Health Sector: The drive provided crucial insights into routine immunization systems, leveraging existing infrastructure and expertise effectively. Role of MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation & Equity Project: National Roll-Out Support: Initiated in August 2021, the …

Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: Unanswered questions, lessons learnt and ongoing challenges
1 year, 5 months ago

Beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: Unanswered questions, lessons learnt and ongoing challenges

Firstpost  

The COVID-19 pandemic that impacted all aspects of human life, quite literally cancelled the planet. Was any internal advice given to the Government of India that the mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna were better, despite the fact that they were significantly more expensive and difficult to administer? Covishield, developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca in the UK, is similar to previous …

The next pandemic is already coming and it could kill millions more than Covid. We need to prepare for it now... writes experts KATE BINGHAM and TIM HAMES
1 year, 6 months ago

The next pandemic is already coming and it could kill millions more than Covid. We need to prepare for it now... writes experts KATE BINGHAM and TIM HAMES

Daily Mail  

The next major pandemic is coming. It’s already on the horizon, and could be far worse — killing millions more people — than the last one. To combat Disease X — as the World Health Organisation ominously calls it — we will once again need vaccines to be engineered and delivered in record time. It’s already on the horizon, and …

G20 Summit 2023 India Global Health Security Pandemic Preparedness Covid
1 year, 6 months ago

G20 Summit 2023 India Global Health Security Pandemic Preparedness Covid

ABP News  

With the crucial G20 conclave happening in Delhi this week when global leaders will deliberate upon several pertinent issues, including healthcare, it is time to reflect upon what India can offer. Despite having the institutions and frameworks like Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 in place, India surprisingly didn’t encompass pandemic preparedness. G20 presidency may help …

Disease X vaccine ‘could be ready within 100 days of new threat emerging’
1 year, 6 months ago

Disease X vaccine ‘could be ready within 100 days of new threat emerging’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. This is a groundbreaking commitment from CEPI to provide momentum that will drive the …

At least single dose vaccine prior to COVID-19 infection provided 60% protection against post-discharge mortality: ICMR study
1 year, 7 months ago

At least single dose vaccine prior to COVID-19 infection provided 60% protection against post-discharge mortality: ICMR study

The Hindu  

At least one dose of vaccine prior to COVID-19 infection provided 60% protection against post-discharge mortality, an Indian Council of Medical Research study on factors related to mortality within one year after discharge in hospitalised COVID-19 patients has found. Overall, the study’s findings suggest that a post-discharge mortality rate of 6.5% in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 warrants a vigilant follow-up. …

Pre-Covid shots provided 60% protection against post-infection deaths: Study
1 year, 7 months ago

Pre-Covid shots provided 60% protection against post-infection deaths: Study

India Today  

The Indian Council of Medical Research, which studied the cause of death in people after recovering from Covid-19 infection, found that those who were vaccinated before contracting the virus had 60 per cent protection against post-discharge mortality. An expert team working at the National Clinical Registry for Covid evaluated factors related to post-discharge mortality during the first year after Covid, …

COVID-19 still a global health threat, new variant under scanner: WHO chief
1 year, 7 months ago

COVID-19 still a global health threat, new variant under scanner: WHO chief

The Hindu  

Director-General of WHO Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus on August 18 said though COVID-19 is no longer a health emergency for the world, it is still a ‘global health threat’ and a new variant of coronavirus is already under the scanner. “Although COVID-19 is no longer a global health emergency, it remains a global health threat. On the occasion, he urged all …

Continue COVID-19 testing to check emergence of new virus variants: WHO chief
1 year, 7 months ago

Continue COVID-19 testing to check emergence of new virus variants: WHO chief

The Hindu  

Warning that many countries aren’t testing enough and that new SARS-CoV-2 virus variants may emerge, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, on Wednesday said that testing and being vigilant is vital in continuing the fight against COVID-19. “While COVID is now behind us and India did its best during the time, we can expect new and more …

Entire world was amazed at scale of India's Covid vaccination programme: PM Modi
1 year, 7 months ago

Entire world was amazed at scale of India's Covid vaccination programme: PM Modi

Hindustan Times  

The administration of 200 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines was possible only because of anganwadi, ASHA and health workers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday. Addressing the nation on the 77th Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort, he said the entire world was amazed at the scale of India's vaccination programme. The world saw India's potential …

Govt Eases Covid Guidelines for International Travellers
1 year, 8 months ago

Govt Eases Covid Guidelines for International Travellers

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: As Covid-19 cases continue to decline in the country, the Union health ministry has eased the guidelines for international visitors on Wednesday. The earlier requirement of RT-PCR testing for a random two per cent subset of international travelers has been dropped. Under the revised guidelines, all international travellers are advised to be fully vaccinated as per the approved …

A new regime: On the Emergency Use Authorisation regime in India and clinical trials
1 year, 9 months ago

A new regime: On the Emergency Use Authorisation regime in India and clinical trials

The Hindu  

Last week, the Drug Controller General of India cleared, under the provisions of ‘emergency use authorisation’, a new mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 developed by Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, a pioneer in India in developing mRNA vaccines. More than evidence-based assessment, it was a technicality in India’s ‘New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019’ that allowed EUA in India for COVID-19 vaccines. …

India urges G-20 countries to join vaccine research collaborative in wake of COVID vaccine inequity
1 year, 9 months ago

India urges G-20 countries to join vaccine research collaborative in wake of COVID vaccine inequity

The Hindu  

With the COVID-19 pandemic exposing the acute inequity in vaccine development and access, the Indian government is working in partnership with two leading global non-profits to convene and build consensus among the G-20 member States and others, for a proposed Global Vaccine Research Collaborative. “International cooperation is essential to advance vaccine development for emerging pathogens, and the G-20 can serve …

India’s Winning Formula: Making Healthcare Affordable and Accessible with PPPs
1 year, 9 months ago

India’s Winning Formula: Making Healthcare Affordable and Accessible with PPPs

News 18  

In the last 75 years, India’s progress as a nation has been both inspiring and impressive. Vaccine PPPs during the Covid-19 pandemic It is during the pandemic that India gained a definite advantage in the global health space, when it administered the first dose of the indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, in January 2021. Within a year of the emergence of …

WHO, Believes Disease X Could Create A Pandemic Like Situation, All You Need To Know
1 year, 10 months ago

WHO, Believes Disease X Could Create A Pandemic Like Situation, All You Need To Know

News 18  

As the world gradually returns to a sense of normalcy following the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the scientific and public health communities remain steadfast in their preparations for future outbreaks and pandemics. As the global community reflects on the challenges and lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, the pursuit of knowledge and preventive measures against future outbreaks …

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